Glass run channel assembly



Aug. 15, 1939. R. H. DEAN GLASS RUN CHANNEL ASSEMBLY INVENTOR. l foy il. ean

B AMM Mda" *W ATTORNEYS the bottom of the Patented Aug. l15, 1939 UNITED STATES* 2,169,792 GLASS RUN CHANNEL ASSEMBLY Roy H. Dean, Detroit, Mich.,

Motors Col'POration, Detroit,

tion of Delaware Applicationlly 12, 1937, Serial No. 153,114

2Claims.

This invention relates to a glass run channel assembly and more particularly to a glass run channel assembly for guiding a sliding window glass in an automotive vehicle body.

In the automobile art it has been common practice to guide the up and down sliding window glass along its vertical edges in glass runs comprising a sheet metal run member of channel sectionlined with felt, pile fabric, or some other 0 suitable cushioning material. The window glass channel shown in the Bailey Patent 1,903,541 is exemplary of this general type of glass run channel. This glass run channel is installed into the window frame and then 'secured therein by sheet 5 metal screws which are passed through the bottom of the channel. One diiliculty with this type 0f window glass channel has been that in certain cases the screws have not been properly seated so that the heads of the screws are flush with metal channel. 'I'hus the projecting portions of the screws have contacted with the edges of the glass and caused considerable chipping of the glass and even glass breakage.

The fact that the screws have not been properly seated hasI also caused the cushion lining to lwear through at these points and expose the somewhat unsightly screw heads.

It is the object of this invention to remedy the above difliculties. This has been achieved by a 9 glass run assembly'wherein the glass run channel is secured in the window frame without passing screws through the bottom of thechannel. In particular this arrangement comprises a plurality of spring clips which are first secured in the window frame and a glass run channel which is adapted for, and engagement with the said clips to secure the same in the window opening.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevation with parts broken away showing a sliding automobile window with the window glass run channel assembled in the Window frame.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line 2--2 .of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the window frame and ,window guide channel showing the method of assembling the glass run channel into the spring clip retainer.

Referring. more particularly to the drawing there is shown a portion of a window frame generally designated I which denes or forms the perimeter of the window opening 2. The frame I on the outside consists of the reveal 3 of the outer door or body panel. The reveal 3 extends 5 completely aroundthe window opening. On the is provided thereafter snapped into, interassignor to General Mich., a corporainside the frame I consists of the garnish molding I which also extends completely around the periphery of the window opening. The reveal 3 with a ilange 5 and the garnish mold- Aing with a ange 6 which cooperate to form a rabbet Il for reception of the wnidow glass run l generally designated 1. 7

The glass run is generally of the type shown in the above-mentioned Bailey channel in` that it consists of a sheet metal member 8 -of channel cross section which has secured therein the seal-v ing and cushioning members 9 of felt, pile fabric or other sealing and cushioning material. The members 9 slidably engage, seal and/or guide the sliding glass I0 along its top and side edges as clearly shown in Fig.2 in the conventional and well known manner. The glass run channel 8 is one piece consisting of the side portions II which extend along the sides of the window frame and the `top portion I2 which extends across the top of the window frame. The channel`8 can be defined as a U channel because the top portion I2 and side portions II form a U. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bottom of the glass run channel takes the form of a dovetail section I3.

The glass run channel is arranged to have a snap-in interengagement with the window frame in the window opening. This snap-in interengagement between the glass runchannel and the `V f. `3o f' yrality of spaced spring clips I5 positioned along i the window opening` A which passs through suitable openings in the bottom I8 of the clip I5 and. in the support member I6. The clips I5 are made of spring steel and the side walls I9 converge inwardly to form a spring socket which receives the dovetail member I3. The side walls I9 are provided with diver-ging edge portions 20 which form a mouth for guiding the glass run channel dovetail I3 into the spring clip I5. The spring clips I5 are mounted along the sides and top of the window frame preferably in spaced relation. 50 The glass run channel 8 is made of any suitable iiexible material such as sheet metal so that the side portions II can be swung or flexed .toward and away from each other. To install the glass run channel in the window frame the side porscrew I1 40 35 body not shownfThelclips x the support memberfl I6 in'v As herein shown-eacnlclip v is secured to the support I6 by asheet metal tions II are drawn toward each other sumciently to permit the top portion I2 to be inserted in the of the channel 8 is then snapped into interengagement with the clips I5 along the top of the channel 8 are snapped into engagement with the spring clips I5 along thesides of the window opening.

From the above it is evident that the glass run channel B is secured in the Window opening so that it conceals the clips I5 and screws I1 thus improving the appearance of the glass run assembly. It is also evident that there is no securing means such as screws or the like which pass through the channel member 8.

It is, of course, appreciated that the glass run serves as a guide for the slidngwindow panel I0 as well as a weatherseal for the edges of the panel.

I claim:

The dovetail I3 of lthe top portion I2 ing a U channel member having top and side portions adapted to be positioned in said rabbetV respectively along the top and sides of the said window frame, and a plurality of spaced snap fasteners for securing the said U channel memengage the said dovetail portion of the channel member to secure the channel member in the said Window frame.

ROY H. DEAN. 

